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"People have worn them for generations, and if you are not wearing one during secondary school then you are never going to learn the necessary skills for when you go into the world of work.

"When you are wearing a clip-on tie it is hard to be taken seriously, especially when you go to competitions against other schools - it feels foolish, and childish."

The school has agreed to review the policy. Nardeep Sharma, headteacher, said the rule was introduced about three years ago to support the health and safety of young people.

He said: "This was in line with the practice in most secondary schools nationally.

"The policy can only be changed by governors and a parent has requested the governors review this policy, which the school has agreed to do."

Max said he welcomed the review and hoped the governors would take his points on board.

Roger Bibbings, occupational safety adviser for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said schools can make pupils wear clip-on ties, but should not cite health and safety grounds.

He said: "It might be a sensible precaution if a school insists on pupils wearing ties while handling rotating machinery, such as in a school workshop, but for any other reason you cannot say this policy was required under health and safety law."

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive added: "It seems to us to be a disproportionate response."